Chicks, Man

This is a disaster.

I’ve worked my butt off to land a job after college at Matthews and Associates, and it’s not because my dad owns the company. It’s been my dream since I was little to follow in his footsteps, apply to law school and work side by side, making him proud. But now… This... Him! Not going to happen. And to imagine working with him? Naive isn’t even the best word to describe how I’ve been about Levi. I couldn’t believe what a jerk he turned out to be. Putting him on a pedestal like he was this great guy all girls dreamed about. He was just another jerk with a well-seasoned act—and he proved it with his cold remark.

A part of me couldn’t blame him. I had deceived him. Set him up. But I was truly doing him a favor. Sleeping with Rebecca Fritz would have been way worse. At least I thought. But to insult me and say he would have never had sex with me hurt. Then again, why was I shocked? I was no one special—nowhere even close on the radar of girls Levi Dent dated. They are all beautiful, popular. I am a plain Jane, short and mousy. My hair is a hot mess on a good day. My eyes are too big for my face. I’m not on Levi Dent’s radar—pfft, or anyone’s, for that matter.

“Um…Daddy? I want to talk to you about Levi,” I start off, then jam some eggs into my mouth. I don’t want to appear nervous, which I certainly am.

“Ah, yes. Good ol’ Levi. What a pair you two will make. He’ll take good care of you,” he replies, taking another sip of his coffee and flipping the page of his newspaper.

“I’m sure he would, but I was wondering if there was anyone else who would be able to let me shadow them?” I ask, stuffing my mouth some more.

My dad drops his paper and glances at me. “And why would you want that? Levi is the best for the job. He’s becoming well respected at the firm, and being a longtime friend of Kip’s and close to this family, I thought he would be a great choice for you.” God, he is making Levi into a saint. Seems like my dad has his naive blinders on too. “Plus, there are a lot of eager men at Matthews and Associates. I don’t want anyone trying to take advantage of you. You’re a pretty girl. I have faith Levi will protect you and keep all those boys away from my baby.” He smiles, then his attention is back on his paper while I try not to choke on my eggs.

My dad offers to give me a ride to the office, but I don’t want to show up pegging myself as the boss’s daughter. I mean, I am the boss’s daughter, but I want to stand on my own two feet. So, I drive behind him. Because there’s really only one feasible route to his office. I check in with the front desk, letting them recognize who I am, and Vanessa, the receptionist, walks me back to HR. I meet with Melanie, the head of human resources, who has me sign all my papers and gets my picture and badge. By mid-morning, I am officially a real employee at Dad’s firm, and Melanie is walking me over to my new desk and wishing me well.

“But…wait, what do I do now?” I ask her back as she leaves me at my bare desk.

“You wait for me to tell you what to do.”

I whip around to see Levi standing in the doorway of the office right behind my desk. You have got to be kidding me. I narrow my eyes as he stands there, his arms crossed over his chest, looking absolutely stunning in a fitted black suit.

“Please tell me you’re visiting someone else’s office,” I say in a not-so-friendly way.

Levi shakes his head, not bothering to offer me any kind gesture in return. “Can’t do that since this office belongs to me.” He pushes off the doorframe and eliminates the space between us. I take a hefty step back, hitting the corner of my desk. “Jesus, Hannah, I’m not going to bite you,” he snaps as he brushes past me, placing a manila folder on my desk, then whips around to face me. “Listen, I’m not happy about this either. But this is what your father wants. I’m sure we can manage to work together without any scheming. Before long, you’ll be on your own and out of my hair.”

I can’t fight the gasp that escapes my parted lips or the hurt in my eyes. He catches it, and it makes me even more upset to give him an ounce of satisfaction that he’s gotten to me. I clench my hands into fists, trying to control my building anger. “You know what—”